Members on the Move: Dr. Diana Tranaude, Ed.D, SHRM-CP

CEC members are making a significant impact on their students, colleagues, community, and the field of special education. Meet Dr. Diana Tranaude, Ed.D, SHRM-CP, Founder and Strategic Consultant with Collaborative Roots LLC.  

Tell us about your involvement in CEC. 

My first experience with CEC was in 2014, when I attended the CEC Convention in San Diego, CA. At that time, I was a teacher and special education site director in New Orleans. Since then, I have attended different webinars as well as reading and posting on the CEC forums. In March 2026, I had the opportunity to speak at the CEC Convention in Salt Lake City, UT, where all my work in special education over the last 14 years felt like a full-circle moment. 

Why did you decide to pursue a career in special education? 

I chose to pursue a career in special education because I’ve always been drawn to understanding the “why” behind learning and behavior. Early in my work, I saw that many challenges weren’t about ability, but about unmet needs - whether related to stress, environments, or mental health - that didn’t fully support how individuals learn and regulate. 

Special education pushed me to look beyond surface-level performance and consider the neurological and environmental factors that shape how people show up. It required seeing the whole person, not just their outcomes, but also the strengths they bring.  

That perspective continues to guide my work today. It led me to focus on how we as practitioners could use brain science to support the performance of both our students and staff. We must design environments where our staff can function, learn, and perform at their best so that our students can have the best educational program. 

Tell us about an exciting or unique project/initiative you have been involved with.  

I am currently leading a workshop series that supports organizational leaders in applying trauma-informed neuroscience practices in their work with staff and teams. The focus of this initiative is helping leaders translate brain science into practical, everyday workplace systems. That way, their staff can remain in their executive functioning state, even in high-stress environments. 

Through this work, leaders learn how psychological safety, regulation, and connection directly impact staff performance and retention. The goal is to move beyond awareness and into sustainable systems that support overall team effectiveness. 

What makes this work unique is its focus on implementation; moving beyond theory to help organizations build environments where people can consistently thrive. 

Describe the most exciting or rewarding aspect of your role. 

The most rewarding aspect of my role is helping organizations see new possibilities when they design systems that are neuroaffirming for all staff. While accessibility is often the entry point, the deeper work is helping leaders recognize differences in how people think and process.  

When an accessibility tool moves from a “nice to have” to an essential part of the work, it maximizes impact on organizational goals. 

One of my favorite parts of this work is working with professionals outside of education and seeing that “aha” moment—when a strategy I’ve used in special education for over a decade clicks in a completely new context. It’s a reminder that the work special educators do every day is incredibly impactful, even if it’s not always visible outside of our field. 

Anything else to add? 

Creating a world that is truly welcoming to neurodivergent individuals is more important now than ever. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, community member, or working in a completely different field, we all play a role in shaping the environments people move through every day. 

Creating neuroaffirming spaces isn’t limited to one profession; it’s a shared responsibility. And while the work can feel challenging at times, it’s also deeply impactful. When we design environments where people feel understood, supported, and able to be themselves, they function at their best, and everyone benefits. 

So, wherever you are doing this work, KEEP GOING. It matters more than you may realize.